The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-08-11
REcovERED ~ ALErTER.

49, NNNt hAAtN WV hs~AG'bA 'Nt" $50
screeching whistles had startled The win
tu morning puuctually At ! o'clock
Worse than that. il bad proved one Of
those velatioas periods thsi sometimes
drive down upon as without the sligh
premoniiion, 10 which the skein Of life
becomes SO hopelessly aud inextricably
tangled that the moro We try 10 smooth 1t
out the more We add to its complication
aud mystery.
Since the wAgeworker's memorable sum.
mons had warned the tsrdy ones Of their
danger 10 that crisp. clear winter morning
until nov at half past five o'clock 10 the
afternoon. il had been a yeritable black
letter day with me. both literally and
netspboricAlly. Ny head swan and my
eyes were dim and blurred. The type
writer. too. hsd been in . sort Of rebel
iious. cranky mood. as though protesting
sgainss the isoessans strain and over-work
that had been put upon IL.
| Foe the dissy little Office on the third
floor. where my monotonous life was most.
ly passed. / could look upon the great
Brooklyn bridge which. like huge arte-
ry. united the hearts OF the two bustling
cities. II was previously seldom that
dared indulge in the luxury of resting my
aching eyes upon the cesselessly moving
panorama Of the towering iron bridge;
but when did 1t gave me new courage to
resume my work. for then realized what
. world Of sctive perpetual workers there
we're besides my own humble self. The
sight was restful to the eye and encour-
aging to the spirits.
II was half past Ave o'clock and q cold
winter day. The cranky typewriter had
esassd from It's petulsnt clicks. and rested
in its corner in moody silence, Is who
should say: II have been shsmsfully
abused today" The wesry fingers thai
bad. for nine hours, manipulated its keys.
were resting upon the sill Of the solitary
window in that dingy office; and the eyes
that had followed steadily the hateful
alphabet all day, were now resting upon
the wagons that we're rolling over the
smooth ways Of the bridge. the noiselessly
gliding cars aud the mass OF pedestrians
The tired body leaned against the window
casing y my eye followed the movements
Of the busy living objects out there.
l was present 10 the body in this little
den, and my eyes seemed to take in all
before them; but my spirit was away out =,
among the hills and fields OF my native {
place. 200 miles away. Thought is SO in 1
dependent Of our surroundings that ii can
take us sirily on its wings and lead us 1
backward or forward 10 scenes once famil'
lar. or 10 those in prospective, hoped for,
but not yet realized.
So. while the weary hands rested on that
window sill. aud the tired body leaned for Z
support against the casing. and the sch-
ing and dimmed eyes seemed reveling in
feast Of delightful change from the hate
full and complaining little typewriter, my I
spirit was 200 miles away in Drayton,
quiet village in New Hampshire, and my 8
mental eye was resting on pleasant but |
humble cottage, and my spiritual ear was t
drinking IN the sweet tones OF tenderness
Of y mothers voice. So completely had ]
my present uncongenisl surroundings y
been obliterated from the tablet Of my
mind that felt the soft touch Of my moth
er's gentle hand upon my head. as she
smoothed my heavy tresses of brown hair i
In the old familiar, caressing way; and l
even heard the dear tones ss she uttered q
them iu her musical voice: b
Courage, my child; and remember a
that . mothers prayers and love are al y
ways with you, and your Heavenly Father
Who cares for . sparrow will watch over 8
you." b
1t VAS the only father had at this time
and tried 10 trust him and let him take :
the sad corner Of my heart. that my own q
earthly father more than filed by his love b
and care for me. b
''Csn you write q letter, miss9" v
The bridge and all its moving psnorams .
had long since vanished from my physical Il
senses. The village home swiftly follow
cd it into oblivion. The dear mothers
face faded and disappeared. and her gen .
tie injunction. woven into her blessing,
was ruthlessly shattered by this terse, v
matter Of fact sentence, exploded so unex.
pcctedly into my ear.
l had come ont Of my dream life with Y
shock that left me for moment speech q
less. l looked st the man dumbfounded d
He seemed 10 me what, in my limited
u perience, Q western miner should D
look like; broad brimmed slouch bat, >
coarse trousers inside Of heavy boots, and
} fur coat which gave him the appearance D
of grizzly bear. such ss had seen pic o
|ured in my school books He had, how q
sver . pleasant face. which WAS both kind
Ind respectful. and Was = man probably al
not more than thirty Ave. Il
Could ! write letter. Well could II
human machine rotate and move 10 its II
uorn sroovesl Could typewriter repro C
luce dictated thought or speech2 "
Gould ] write letter." | Intercepted u
still gazing q. him. N
That's about the size OF it. miss," be y
Issented with Just = slight relaxation from b
ais sad look. bat not quite smile. You u
'es, miss. I've Just come On from Lead o.
Iills. where I've been for about ten years al
Imong the mines. made lots OF money 10
,ot there and I've come back 10 settle y
iovn. I've 60, 10 be 10 tue city for 10
reek or two on some business. and / II
hought I'd Just get some one to write to u